What I did Right Last Christmas (part 2)

Last Christmas the example of a friend motivated me to get organized for the arrival of our family. Read part one here.

The 8 days our house was full of people went fabulously. I had time to sit and hold the baby, visit with my daughter-in-law, play the complicated board games my family prefers (one game took well over 2 hours), go on outings for “light-seeing” and coffee, and bring 10 people home for dinner!

My sister-in-law had to sleep on a bed we pumped up every night in the family room which is right off the kitchen in our house. We draped curtains over the opening and she said she was staying in the “Taj Mahal”.

We had my parents-in-law over several times as well as a couple of movie viewing nights with friends. I guess we should now call our family room “The Taj Theater” as that is where we “show” our movies.

Two hour-plus Carcassone game!

We included a stop to visit my 90 year old friend, Marion, on Christmas Eve and sing carols with her for an hour at the retirement home where she lives. We left there and went straight to the Christmas Eve service and were home and eating supper by 6:30!

Below is the menu I made up. In italics are the comments I wrote down during the week and after to remember for this year.

Wednesday, December 21

Dinner – Left over Autumn Pork Stew, salad (lettuce, orange slices, sweet pepper, poppy seed dressing)

Thursday, December 22

Dinner – Asian Salmon, baked potato, salad (Jim and I)

Frozen pizza for youth group boys game night

Friday, December 23 (Daniel, Abby, and Anna arrive)

Lunch – Pumpkin Soup (freezer); Orange slice salad with poppy seeds and oil and vinegar on lettuce leaf; bread rolls; Christmas cookies

Dinner – at Stiles and dessert at Debi’s

Saturday, December 24

Breakfast – cheese strada, fruit,

Lunch – cheese, summer sausage, and crackers, orange and apple slices

Dinner – taco soup (crock pot), coleslaw, cookies

Sunday, Christmas

Breakfast – scrambled eggs, Christmas ring, sausage

Christmas Dinner – Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, Waldorf salad, (brown and serve rolls) – (family brought rest of the meal) 12 lb turkey is too small. Pay more for a bigger one! Didn’t have rolls, no complaints on that.

Evening – snacks – Ate at 3:30, so didn’t really need snacks.

Monday, December 26

Breakfast – Cereal, bananas, milk, coffee – everyone likes homemade granola, lots of yogurts were good addition

Lunch – potato cheese soup w/leftover mashed potatoes – good use of leftovers! ("Smashed Potato Soup", Family Circle Slow Cooker Meals, p. 143)

Dinner – Turkey & Dressing casserole, salad – good use of leftovers! Added boxed sweet potato casserole and fed 8

Tuesday, December 27

Breakfast – oatmeal, fruit, nuts

Lunch – quesadillas, with peppers, chicken, black olives, and mushrooms – 4 star idea!!! Served “buffet” style; 2 large frying pans on medium-low to heat; chips and salsa

Dinner – Spaghetti and Spicy Meatballs (freezer), salad – everyone loves the spicy meatballs! Need at least 4 per person, 5 would be better.

Wednesday, December 28

Breakfast – cereal – Thankgiving French Toast – the make-the-night-before breakfast dishes are great, I get to do my exercises before breakfast!

Lunch – sandwiches, fresh veggies, pretzels – lunch meat and tuna

Dinner – Chicken Enchiladas (freezer), salad – 0 stars. Family prefers beef and bean enchiladas

Thursday, December 29

Breakfast – oatmeal, fruit, nuts, milk

Lunch – Garlic Chicken Vegetable Soup – Daniel and Abby went to Grandma and Grandpa’s for lunch, we ate leftovers.

Dinner (celebrate Samuel’s birthday)

Tender Chuck Roast, Mashed potatoes, green beans w/almonds, carrot salad, angel food cake, - this chuck recipe is very good, but roast needs to warm to room temp. before placing in oven, or it doesn’t get done!

Friday, December 30 (Samuel leaves)

Breakfast – cereal, bananas, coffee, yogurt – used second Swedish (Christmas”) ring

Lunch – Chili, cornbread, salad

Dinner – honey curried chicken, rice, stir fried broccoli with peppers – did rice in oven with chicken—worked great; cover chicken with foil to keep moist.

(Daniel, Abby and Anna leave)

Saturday, December 31

Breakfast – pancakes – cereal, yogurt, and fruit

Lunch – sloppy joes, (freezer) raw veggies – left over taco soup

Dinner – stuffed shells, salad – Grandma and Grandpa took us out to Bishops for last time, it closes Sunday.

Sunday, January 1

Breakfast ­– Paneton (Peruvian Christmas Bread), eggs, oranges

Lunch – Pork roast, boxed scalloped or sweet potatoes, green beans w/peppers

(Lois leaves)

Dinner – frozen pizza popcorn and apple slices

Leftovers

Taco Soup – 3 servings

Smashed Potato Soup – 3 servings

Pumpkin Soup – 4 servings

Still have on hand

Garlic Chicken Vegetable Soup – 8-10 servings

Frozen pizzas – 4

Stuffed shells – 4 servings

Sloppy Joes – 5-6 servings

My goal with all this menu information was to give you some inspiration and ideas. I hope it did, and I'm wishing you a wonderful and organized holiday season!

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